Who runs the world….
Women are out to make 2021 a better place for mankind. Ladies all across America are doing wonderful things to help get us through one of the most difficult moments in modern history.
Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, was honored at the 2020 Power Women of Long Island presented by Schneps Media and Dan’s Papers, which took place at St. Andrews Church in Southampton, NY. Jean was honored with the Philanthropist of the Year Award for her continuous work in philanthropy. Launched in 1990 by Schneps Media’s President Victoria Schneps this event was founded to empower women and connect them with each other. The event honors and recognizes successful business, community, cultural, political, civic and religious female leaders. The event includes a business expo and trade show with networking followed by a dinner and awards ceremony.
Southampton’s Business Revitalization Committee, developed by former Trustee Kimberly Alan in 2019 to promote year round tourism and activities for, watched as families moved to their summer homes, rented year-round, and took extended stays at the Southampton Inn to ride out the pandemic in a bucolic setting by the beach.
But there is a little known dark side to the idyllic village. With over 80 families in need of food and proper shelter and clothing due to the pandemic, Roseanne Gentile from Southampton Elementary School spoke with representatives of the BRC to determine how and whether the local business organization could assist. Within a few weeks the BRC created a synergistic program for local business to have bowed holiday boxes to collect from their customers. Neighbors shopped local to pick up special promotions and drop funds into the boxes. By December 20th, over $10,000 was raised from over 50 small businesses within the Village. Some shops offered the families gift certificates for clothing. Some restaurants offered turkeys and Christmas cookies. And shop owners, usually independent boutiques, came together to assist their neighbors.
While the holidays were the impetus for this targeted program, many local businesses are continuing to provide food and clothing and funds throughout the winter. “Nobody within our very special village should be hungry” said Shannon Willey, chair of the BRC. “We offered take-out picnics all summer to village visitors. Now we are packaging picnics for our neighbors in need” said Dede Moan from Southampton Inn.
And, finally life coach Brenda Di Bari is revolutionizing what it means to be a working mom who wants to protect your children as equally as her own. Her inspirational e-books are teaching women how to cope in 2021.
“The pandemic has had a profound effect on every person, whether we even realize to what extent this is true. I see this effect on clients in my work both as a life coach and as a real estate broker. People are doing a lot of soul searching as the typical distractions of life have been stripped away. Those who are feeling assertive about achieving goals are digging deeper to discover their why. People are closely examining their day-to-day existence, including their priorities in every detail of how and where they live,” she states.
And reflecting on the life lessons of this last year, she also expresses the need to discuss suicide awareness for teens to helping single mothers learn how to have self-care.
“The best advice I can share as it relates to the challenges we are facing today is to keep present in your mind that change is constant. What we experience today is here to teach us, and if we rise to the challenge, we will grow and be better than ever before. The struggle we have today will not last forever and if I dare say it, we will grow and learn from this time of challenge. On a daily basis it is important to draw your focus to things that add to your sense of well-being. For some this may mean meditating and exercise. For others this may mean making more time for reading or watching movies we’ve meant to see. The important thing is to make a focused effort to be accepting of yourself and move toward the things that improve your day.”
Here is to all the women out to make 2021 a year of hope.
This year the music that astounded was in Cabaret, Concert and Off Broadway shows. Here is T2C’s List for The Best in Music.
Jordan Donica: I was introduced to Jordan Donica via The New York Pops. Sounding like a cross between John Rait, Alfred Drake, John Cullen and Richard Kiley his performance was layered and nuanced, as he became the essence of the songs he sang. Though I had seen Donica in My Fair Lady, I wasn’t that impressed, but on this night I was so enthralled I called everyone I knew. When it comes to voices, I am picky and no one could believe how thrilled I was to discover this vocal powerhouse, who is sexy to boot. I can not wait to see him play Lancelot in the upcoming production of Camelot.
The New York Pops: Of all the things I review this is my favorite guilty pleasure. This year The New York Pops has out done themselves and I can not wait until Febuary 10th for their concert with Heather Headley, March 24th with Marilyn Maye and their gala on May 1st. The New York Pops is truly a New York treasure.
Audra McDonald is like fine champagne with effortlessness vocal prowess. Her concert at Carnegie Hall was the highlight of the year.
The Night of Inspiration: Going to this concert was one of the best mistakes I have ever made. I thought I was reviewing one concert but ended up at here. So spirit filled, with love, connection and God. Grammy and Dove winners, amazing voices soared with heart and soul. So uplifting! So full of light in a world that seems to be going dark. So blessed.
Louis Rosen: I am seriously in love with Louis Rosen’s music and talent. Recently I discovered two of his albums that are making me thrill, as they send me to a musicality induced heaven. Rosen’s melodically structured music reminds me of Adam Guettel’s pieces that cut into the heart and at the same time sooth and heal. Look for It Is Still Dark: Three Suites andSuite for Clarinet and Piano.
Heather Christian and Oratorio for Living Things was done by Ars Nova at Greenwich House. The score soared with intricate harmonies. Think Leonard Bernstein’s Mass, The Juliet Letters by Elvis Costello, the Brodsky Quartet, a little Tori Amos, with strains of The Beatles and Queen. Musically, this show bordered on genius.
Michael John LaChiusa’s music in Los Otros is haunting, subtly powerful and embeds itself into your soul. It is passionate with pulsating life, as he weaves the era of the 30’s all the way up to 2000. From bebop, to pop, to jazz, the music is lush, sweeping and masterful.
To Steve From Liz Callaway: Liz’s stories made us feel closer to the legendary composer, who’s death feels like a piece of your history has been erased. Liz’s voice is also pure and her wonderful song material made for an amazing, magical night of remembrance and song. You can catch Liz’s album of this show which just released.
The Islander was a new Scottish musical and spiritual feast. This a capella musical, is where exquisite harmony abounds. The music and lyrics by Finn Anderson, were soul-stirring, transporting you from the island, to the sea, to the mists beyond what is.
Cellist Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf is a solo, chamber, Broadway and recording artist who appeared at Chelsea Table + Stage with guest stars Norbert Leo Butz and Jessica Vosk. Phaneuf was so smart when she chose her guests who are two of the best singers in New York.
Jason Robert Brown‘s concerts at Feinstein’s/54 Below equal musical nirvana. Brown showed off his musical prowess with a series of musical styles to be cherished. Brown’s music is so delicious it needs time to digest. Watching Brown you realize he is a showman besides being a genius songwriter, orchestrator, healer, a generous band leader who writes charts. Seeing Jason Robert Brown in concert is to discover joy. Brown is a musicians, musicians who heals the world with his profound lyrics.
Here is some great food news to keep foodies having a very cool summer.
M&M’S Ice Cream will announce the “Sammy Pack,” a temperature-controlled fanny pack, to offer fans a practical and fun way to carry their favorite frozen treat in style.
Fans can snag the limited-edition M&M’S Ice Cream Sammy Pack, along with M&M’S Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches. To enter, consumers can visit a microsite of mms.com, which will be shared closer to the announcement. Entries close on August 16 with the winners selected and notified shortly after. The fashionable, versatile pack features summer-inspired imagery influenced by classic and bright M&M’S lentils. The insulated pack also features a custom M&M’S Ice Cream cooling device that will keep the product chilled, allowing consumers to enjoy their favorite summer treat on-the-go during the hottest months of the year.
For the backyard bbq party be sure to try are new obsession – Chipotle Kebabs.
Basted in a smoky-sweet blend of Cholula® Hot Sauce and agave nectar, these chipotle flavored pork kebabs are an easy dish your whole crew will love. They only take 15 min to prep and 20 minutes to cook. For distinctive smokiness with a touch of heat, uncap Cholula Chipotle Hot Sauce. We’ve blended sweet, smoky chipotles with arbol & piquin peppers along with our signature spices for an authentic Mexican hot sauce that offers rich barbecue flavor notes and color. Pair this sauce with salsa, corn on the cob, burgers and more.
And, finally even your little one can enjoy summer days with Happy Family Organics offers organic formula, meals and snacks with curated ingredients for your baby and toddler.
Happy Baby Clearly Crafted Pouches feature unique recipes crafted for budding palates, made with organic fruits and veggies traceable to the farms they came fro.
Cover Art – Etienne Girardet on Unsplash
With the summer in full swing we took some time to test brands that stood the test of time from sun up to sun down.
Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint SPF 30: Calling all city girls and gals! This roll-on application that protects you skin just makes you giggle with joy when you put it on. I mean how smart and it’s the thing we didn’t know we needed until we had.
A sheer, clean skin tint with SPF 30 sunscreen and hydrating skincare ingredients that quickly evens out your skin tone for weightless coverage and a radiant glow. The formula is vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, silicone-free, and gluten-free. Available in 14 shades on MilkMakeup.com for $42. Find a shade that matches your skin with ease. We love this!
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen:
Brand ambassador Reese Witherspoon has been proudly promoting this line that we have also taken a small place in our heart for. If you are prone to breakouts – and who isn’t over the summer – this is a must. Protect your skin without issue!
This lightweight, deeply hydrating, and Squalane-rich clean sunscreen is a daily healthy-skin favorite of the stars from coast to coast. Its powerfully invisible formula blends in for all skin tones fast and without leaving a trace, giving you a soft, dewy finish. Available on Biossance.com for $30 (50ml/1.7oz).
JLo Beauty That Big Screen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Moisturizer:
Another big star who shines as bright as the sun itself is having us sing loud and proud this summer with her skincare line.
Jennifer Lopez’s luxurious, luminizing moisturizer that blocks UVA/UVB rays, street pollutants, free radicals, and blue light damage does it all while delivering a smoother, dewier, glowier complexion. Instantly, you’ll achieve that Jennifer Lopez glow. Available on JLoBeauty.com for $54 (1.7oz). Get your girl power on and get this!
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50:
And for you and the whole family try this brand that always proves to be a refreshing product on the market. It protects young to old all while being ever so gentle to your precious skin. You don’t have to be a kid to have fresh skin to look like one!
A baby-friendly, family loved SPF 50 sunscreen that uses 100% mineral, non-nano zinc oxide for broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It’s lightweight, fast-absorbing, and formulated with Squalane for extra hydration. Available on PipetteBaby.com for $15 (4 fl oz).
Cover art by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
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